Condition control apparatus



y 1952 v J. M. WILSON ET AL 2,502,591

I CONDITION CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 ,E'i j my;

10 Ll HIUIHHHIIHIHH H'll'llllllllllllll Ill Iinvqntors JOHN M. W/L 501V J. M. WILSON ET AL CONDITION CONTROL APPARATUS July 8, 1952 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1948 .9779/VLEY W NICKELLS @0 A6 (lttorneg Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,602,591 CONDITION CONTROL APPARATUS J hn, M- ls n, Mi n ap i and t l y Nickells, St. Louis Park, Minn, assignors to, Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application November 15', 1948, Serial No; 60,012

(01. ass-'91 13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates. to condition con trol' apparatus and particularly to that type of brought about by measuringthe rate at which the condition changing: medium is supplied to maintain the desired condition so that an anticipating efiect will result. In using an electrical network of the Wheatstone bridge type, with condition sensingresistors used to detect'the rate of supply of the condition changing medium there is a,

tendency for the, rate responsive resistors to get out of step and cause uneven periods of short cycling by creating false indications of a need for a new operating cycle. After a number of these short cycles the condition being controlled will vary sufficiently so that a main controller will take over and there will be a large or long period during which the condition changing apparatus will be'inopera'tive. This type of operation will result in wide swings in the controlled condition from the desired contro1 point which is very undesirable.

The present invention proposes eliminating these wide swings of control temperature by providing means which will prevent the rate responsi-ve resistors of a control bridge from becoming out of step or becoming effective fora certain period of time.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a condition control apparatus which is measuring the rate of supply of a heating-medium and providing therewith means for preventing the rate responsive portion of the apparatus from becoming effective until a desired condition exists in the control network.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a condition control apparatus which employs'a rate responsive apparatus and a load measuring apparatus to maintain a desired'condition in a given space.

Still another object of the present invention-is to provide a condition controlling apparatus which employs a control network responsive to the rate of supply of the heating medium to a given space and providing therewith a timer which will prevent the rate responsive elements from getting out of step.

'These and other objects of the present invention will be obviousfrom a considerationof the,

o wi p ifi a n, c a s dappended drawing of which:

Figure 1 represents the present invention as applied to a temperature control apparatus wherein means are provided for measuring the rate of sum-31y ofheat to; a space'and the load demand of the space whose; temperature is being. controlled-pande Figure 2 represents a modification of the invention employing a timer which prevents the rate responsive. portion of the control apparatus from becoming effective until, a predetermined time interval has passed and which time; interval mu be such as-to. prevent therate responsive portion from becomingout of step.

efe r n w to F r 1 t m r l J pk r sen a e t c ange r ace S h s, a r ial.- tor which is used to supply heat to the area indi-. cated generally at H The source of heat for he ad or 10 s. pr idedb a burner 2 whi h; is used to supply heatft'oa furnace l3, Conduct: ing of the heating medium away-from the furnace I3 is accomplished by a' conduit [4 which 5:69

nected to, the intakefside of the; radiator l0 and cond t n h at n m ium we? mm th radiator I0 is a further conduit l5 which tenni ma s i he -urn ce Eor indicating the need for operation of the burner I2 a control network I6 is provided Whose output is connected to an electronic amplifier in-Q dicated at IT. The amplifier I"! is operative when the output signal from the controlhetwork i6. is of a first value to initiate energization offtheree lay [8 which in turn will cause energiziatio'n of the burner 12. When the control network no. longer indicates a need for the supplying of heat the output voltage will have changed and the amplifier I1 will have an output which will not be suificient to maintain therelay I BfenergiZed and the relay when deenergi zed wil l no longer maintain the burner l2 in an energizing circuit.

The control network It is a balanceable e1ectri-.-. l e w k f. t w t e b id ar n has as a source of power a transformer 20 hav'--. n a pri y w n n I wh c a r c nnec ed o any sui abl so rc i se r nd a s cen erv w ndin The em era u e ensi esist r e em si he q qlf r ge cl de a sta e. ha ng a e e elv are t mper ture efl en o ance. wh ch s locat d, the s ace 11 whe i is' qeate t e e s r "A Lie acted the s me nQr-t ono he ontrol br deas he resistor v i an ou oor tempera ur s n n res stor 2 which also ha .re 'ativelr 3 large temperature coefiicient of resistance. Located in the lower portion of the control bridge I6 are temperature sensing resistors 26 and 2! located in a housing 28 which is positioned in the radiator supply conduit I4, shown in enlarged section. An insulating or lagging material 29 is used to separate the resistors 23 and 21. Also located in the lower portion of the bridge I3 is temperature sensing resistor 30 which is located within the housing 3i and which in turn is positioned within the heating medium return conduit I5, which is shown in enlarged section. A pair of fixed resistors 32 and 33 and a rheostat 34 are provided for varying the controlling efiect of the lower portion of the bridge I6 upon the output of the control bridge.

Output terminals for control bridge I6 are provided by ground terminal 35 and an output terminal indicated at 38 and these output terminals are connected to input terminals 31 and 38 respectively of amplifier I7. Input power lines are connected to the amplifier I! at terminals 39 and 40 and the relay I8 is connected to amplifier output terminals 4| and 42. The relay I8 consists of a relay winding 43 which is operative to move, when energized, a switch blade 44 into engagement with its associated switch contact 45, the switch blade being biased by any suitable means (not shown) out of engagement with contact 45.

Operation of Figure 1 In considering the operation of Figure 1, it is best to consider first the association of the temperature sensing resistors in the control bridge I6. Assuming the resistors of each leg of the lower portion of the bridge are equal and the half cycle of operation in which the polarity of the transformer secondary is as indicated with the left hand terminal positive and the right hand terminal negative, a decrease in temperature of the space temperature sensing resistor 23, with a positive temperature coe'ficien't of resistance, will result in the bridge being unbalanced so that the ground terminal 35 will be negative and the other output terminal 36 will be positive. Similarly, in considering the action of the outdoor resistor 24, assuming the same conditions as above, a decrease in the temperature of the resistor 24 will tend to cause the output voltage of the control bridge to be negative on the ground terminal 35 and positive on the output terminal 36 in the same manner as was caused by a decrease in the temperature of the space temperature resistor 23.

With the balanced condition on the output terminals of the control bridge I6 there will be no indication for a need for operation of the burner I2. Should there be a drop of the room temperature the resistance change of the space temperature sensing resistor 23 will be such as to unbalance the bridge as indicated above and there will be an indication for the need for operation of the burner I2. Neglecting for the moment the functioning of the resistors in the lower portion of the bridge It, the unbalance of the bridge caused by the change in temperature of the resistor 23 will result in an output signal which will cause the amplifier H to energize the relay I8 so that the switch blade is moved into engagement with its switch contact 7 45. When the switch blade 44 engages switch contact 45 an electrical circuit will be completed to the burner I2 and this circuit may be traced from the input power line 50 through conductor switch blade 44, switch contact 45, conductor 52,

burner I2, and conductor 53 back to the other input power line 54. With the burner I2 now energized there will be heat supplied to the interior of the furnace I3 and the heating medium of the system will be heated and will flow through the conduit I4 to the radiator I0, where it will lose a greater portion of the heat transferred to it by the furnace I3, and back to the conduit I5 to the furnace I3. With heat supplied to the space it the temperature of the resistor 23 will begin to rise and the bridge it will be brought back into balanced condition. A decrease in the outdoor temperature as sensed by the temperature sensing resistor 24 will result in the unbalancing of the control bridge in the same direction, as pointed out above, and again the burner I2 will be'brought into operation and it will stay in operation until such time as the room temperature indicated by the resistor 23 has increased sufiiciently to overcome the unbalance created by the decrease in resistance of the outdoor resistor 24. This rise in the indoor temperature is desirable with a decreasing outdoor temperature because of the cooling of the walls and the change in the radiating effect the walls will have upon the occupants of the room or the space II. In actual practice this compensating resistor is actually relatively'small when compared with the resistance of the resistor 23 so that the change in control point or space temperature of the space M will be relatively small for large changes of outdoor temperature as sensed by the resistor 24.

As yet no consideration has been given to resistors in the lower half section of the control bridge I6. Here, located in housing 28 are resistors 23 and 27 both of which have a positive temperature coefiicient of resistance. The resistor 26 is located very closely to the surface of the housing 28 and therefore responds relatively quickly to changes in temperature of the heating medium flowing in the supply conduit I 4. lhe resistor 2! is separated from the resistor 25 by insulation or lagging material 29 which has the effect of causing the resistor to respond relatively slowly to changes in the temperature of the heating medium flowing in the supply conduit I4. These resistors are connected in opposite legs of the control bridge 50 that it will be possible to obtain a rate of supply of the heating medium signal. The resistor 26 is actually connected to the left hand portion of the bridge under consideration by conductors 55 and 56 while the resistor 2'! is connected to the right hand portion of the bridge under consideration by conductors 51, 58, resistor 30, whose action shall be considered below, and conductor59. The reason a rate measuring signal is obtained may be seen when it is considered that upon the energization of the burner I2, upon a heat demand condition indicated by the bridge I3, the heating medium in the supply conduit I4 will be increasing in temperature and this increase in temperature will be detected by the resistor 26 which is unlagged and its increase in resistance will tend to eliminate the unbalance calling for operation of the burner I2. The temperature of the resistance 2'! will begin to follow that of the resistance 2t and will tend to counteract the rebalancing caused by the resistance 26. However, the resistor 2? will not increase in temperature at the same rate as the increase in temperature of the resistor 2 3 and therefore their temperatures will continue to separate until such time as the resultant unbalance of the control bridge due to sateen 5,. thesere'sis'tors has removed the unbalance callingl foroperation of theb-urner 12;

When the burner l2'is cut off'upon the rebal ancing of the bridge 16, the temperature of the heating medium flowing in the supply conduit M'be'gins to decreaseand the temperature ofthe resistance 26' will begin to drop at approximately the same rate. The temperature of the resistance 21 "will tend to follow the temperature 'of the resistor 26 and'if the resistance of thejresistors 26 and ZTare the same and there is lagging 'be-" tween the two, their temperatures will'become equal. at some temperature point higher than the initial "point and the resistance 26wil'l continue tocool faster than the resistor 21 so that a demand for-heat'will be created by the unbalance of the bridge Hi. If the respective temperatures of the resistors 26 and 27 are higher at the time they create a demand for heat than they were at start of the initial cycle, the temperature at which they will create a demand for heat will continue-to rise in the subsequent cycles of their heating and cooling upon the energization and deenergization .of the burner I21 Assuming con stant load demand, this continuous rise in the supply temperature will cause the room or space H to overheat and .the space resistor 23 will becomeheated to a point where it overbalances the action of the resistors 26 and 21 and the burner l2 will then remain shut off for relatively long period of .time until the room H and resistor 23 cools off. In other words, the resistors .26 and2l will cause a number of successively shorter operating cycles of the burner E2 or cycles of increased frequency as the resistors 26 and 2'! tend to become out of step until the space temperature of the room ll overheats or overshoots the desired control point at which time the resistor 23 shuts theburner down for a long period of time. This obviously is an undesirable condition as the space temperature will be varying over wide ranges with the uneven lengths of operation of the burner 12.

One'method of preventing this undesirablecondition is to take a portion of the resistor 21 and place it in the return conduit aridthis is what has been done by the addition of the resistor 30 in the control bridge. This resistor 30, located in'zhousing 3|, is an unlagged resistor, or one which is adapted to follow closely the changes in temperature of the heating medium flowing 1n the'return conduit l5. It has been found that with constant'load conditions, the-temperature of the heating medium inthe return "line or conduit-is relatively constant and so with resistor 30 located so .as to be subjected to this constant temperature, the right hand lower portion of the bridge 16 is effectively tied to a fixed reference in the heating medium. Thisconstant reference added to the lagged reference-of resistor 21,- when opposed by the unlagged resistance of resistor 26, prevents theeifective temperaturedifference between the'resistors .26 and 2-1 from becoming effective to create a heat demand condition until the temperature of the resistances have vreachedl a temperature corresponding to that on the start of the heating cycle. This will mean that the time'intervals between theheat demand andno heat demand conditions, with constant load, will biz-constant and the space temperature will not varyv over the wide ranges as would occur if the resistors 26 and 2! were used alone.

It hasfurther been found that .withchanges inthe load demand conditions of the temperature control apparatusthatthe temperature" of the water in the return line or: conduit; l5 changes accordingly. Therefore, with an increase in de- 6 mand for heat by theter'rip'e'rature control system there will be acorrespondingincrease in the temperature-of thev heating medium flowing. in the return conduit 1 5; Therewill likewise be an increase in the temperature of the heating medium: flowing in thesupplyrconduit Monlythis supply:

if the resistor 26 were50 0 ohms and the resistor- 30 were 600 ohms, an increase or 10 degre'esin the supply conduit-might mean an-increase of 5 degreesinthe return conduit. The 10 degree increase on the resistor 26 might cause a 10; ohm

increase and the 5degree increase on the 600 resistance of resistor 30 might cause a 10' ohmincrease and therefore the control point of the system would not be affected by the increase in load represented by the increased temperatures of the supply and return conduits- Carrying the example further, if the resistor 26 were-500' ohms and the resistor 30 were 700 ohms and again a 10 degree increase-was had the supply conduit and a 5 degree increase in the return conduit, the

change in resistance of theresistor 26 would be 10 .ohms but this timethe changeof resistor 30- would be 12 ohms and therefore the control pointof the system would be caused to shift by-th e 2 ohmsintroduced by the resistor 30 and this 2 ohm increase, inthis example, would cause arise in thecontrol point of the system. By varying the resistance of the resistor'30 the systems may be under or over-compensated as the load conditions change :as represented by the changes in temperature -:of the heatingfmedium flowing in the return conduit.

Itmaytherefore be seen that the "subject appa ratus provides in' resistors .26 and-21 a signal or measure of therate of supplyqof the-heatingmedium flowing to the radiator 10 while the resistors 26 and 30 give asignal or measure of the load or'amountofheat lost in the-radiator III, which loss is necessary to maintain the desired temperature in the'space H.- This will mean that the cycling rate oftheburner I2 willbe con stant for constant "load conditions and will' vary with changes inload .as determined by the'heating andicooling .of the resistors 26 and 21 and the temperatures sensedby the resistors '26 and 30.

In considering the entire control bridge I 6,'the space'resistor 2'3 is the main control element and wide changes in" space-temperature will cause this resistor-to take control of the bridge and the burner l2 until thetemperaturehasreached a certain rangeand'as soon as this range has been reached the rate Band 1 load measuring" resistors 26,21 and 36 become effective to maintain'the control point within-very clos'elimits'. The effect of the'outdoor resistor is to modify therang o'f'effectiveness" of the space resistor 23 and, as pointed out above, is selected primarily to"in-' crease the'control point or range of effectiveness of the roomresistor'23 with decreases in outdoor temperature. Rheostat 25 is the calibration de vice' o'f theapparatus and determines the initial controlpoint while the rheostat-M is used-tovary the effect the resistors 26, 21 and- 3n- 'willflhave on the entire control network.

ae w

- Figure 2 The apparatus disclosed in Figure 2 is againdirectedto an apparatus to control the flow of the heating medium to a radiator I which in turn is a heat exchanger for the space II. The burner I2 is operative when energized to supply flame to the furnace I3 and the heating medium is heated therein and passed through a supply conduit I4 to the radiator I0 and from the radiator I0 the heating medium is returnedby means of a conduit I to the furnace. The control network for the apparatus of Figure 2 is a balanceable electrical network I00 whose output terminals are connected to an amplifier and timer located Within the housing IflI and which amplifier is operative to cause energization of the burner I2 whenever the control network I60 indicates a need for such operation. I

The control network I60 may be seen to consist of a transformer I62 having a primary winding I03 whichmay be connected to any suitable source of power at a secondary winding I04. A temperature sensing resistor I05 is located in the space II and this resistor is selected to have a relatively large temperature coefficient of resistance. The calibration of the apparatus is accomplished by a rheostat I06. Two further ternperature sensing resistors I01 and I68 are located in a housing I09 which is threadedly engaged within the supply conduit I4 so as to be in close association with the heating medium flowing in the conduit I4. An insulating or lagging material III] is located between the resistors I61 and I08. Fixed resistors III and H2 and the rheostat II3 are used to control the effect the resistors I01 and I08 will have upon the overall control network. Output terminals for the control network are provided at ground terminal I I4 and at terminal I I5. The ground terminal H4 is effectively connected to the ground terminal i I1 within the amplifier housing HM and the output terminal H5 is connected through a condenser II6 to an input terminal H3 on the amplifier Iti. The amplifier I0! may be seen to consist of a pair of electron discharge devices indicated at I and I2I. The discharge device I26 may be seen to consist of an anode I22, a control electrode I23, and a cathode I24 which is heated to be electron emissive by a heater I25. The discharge device IZI may be seen to consist of an anode I26, a control electrode I21 and a cathode I28 which is heated to be electron emissive by an appropriate heater I26. Connected between the control electrode and cathode of discharge device I20 is a grid resistor I30. Resistors I3I and condenser I32 are connected in series to form a biasing circuit for the discharge device I2I. A resistor I33 is provided as a grid current limiting resistor on the discharge device I2I. Located in the plate current circuit of the discharge device I20 and associated with the biasing circuit of the discharge device I2I is resistor I34. Also directly associated with this resistor I34 are a pair of resistors I35 and I36 and a condenser I31.

Located in the conductive circuit of the discharge device i2I is a relay I46 which has a relay winding I4I which is operative when energized to move a pair of switch blades I42 and I43 into engagement with their associated contacts I44 and I45. When the relay is deenergized the switch blade I42 is biased into engagement with contact I46 by means not shown. A condenser I41 is provided for bypassing the alternating current flowing in the plate circuit of the discharge device I2I. A condenser I48 and a resistor I49 function in a timing capacity in a manner to be explained below. For indicating the length of time the burner has been in operation when it is rendered operative by the amplifier IOI a flame detector I50 is provided. This flame detector is rendered operative by a photocell I5I which when sensing a burner flame will cause the flame detector I50 to energize a relay I52. The relay I52 may be seen to consist of a winding I53 which is operative when energized to move a switch blade I54 from engagement with its associated contact I56 into engagement with a further contact I51, the last mentioned contacts being directly associated with the timing device of the apparatus. The source of power for the subject apparatus is a transformer I 60 which has a primary winding I6I connected to a suitable source of power and a pair of secondary windings I62 and I63.

Operation of Figure 2 In considering the operation of the apparatus of Figure 2, assume first that the lower portion or" the control network I00, which is a Wheatstone bridge, is balanced. If the temperature of the space II should drop the temperature of the resistor I05 will drop and if it has a positive temperature coefiicient of resistance, with the secondary I04 phased to be positive on the left hand terminal and negative on the right hand terminal, there will be an unbalance of the network I00 and the output voltage will appear on the network output terminals with the ground terminal II 4 being negative and the other output terminal II5 being positive.- With this output voltage on the output of network I00 there will be an input voltage on the input of discharge device I20. This circuit may be traced from the control electrode I23 through terminal II3, condenser II6, terminal II5, network I00, ground output terminal II4, ground II 1, and conductors I65 and I66 to the cathode I24 of discharge device I26. This will mean that the control electrode I23 will be positive with respect to the cathode I24 with the unbalance and phasing as indicated above.

With the control electrode positive it Will be necessary to have the anode I22 on its positive half cycle in order for the discharge device I20 to become conductive and this may be accomplished by phasing the secondary I63 so that the upper terminal is negative and the lower terminal is positive at the same time that the secondary I04 is phased as indicated above. When the discharge device I20 is conductive the current flow circuit may be traced from the lower terminal of secondary I63 through conductors circuit last traced there will be a voltage drop across the resistor I34 so that its left hand terminal is positive and its right hand terminal is negative. This voltage drop will in turn charge the condenser I31 which is efiectively connected in parallel with the resistor I34 by a circuit which may be traced from the left hand terminal of resistor I 34, resistor I35, condenser I31, resistor I36 and conductor I69 to the right hand terminal of resistor I34. This condenser will be charged to a value corresponding to the voltage drop across the resistor I34. The charge on this condenser I31 must be sufficient to overcome the fixed biasing voltage that is applied to the discharge device IZI.

The" fixed biasing voltage on tube. I2I is an alternating current bias that effectively causes the control electrode I21 to be biased negatively when the anode I26 is on the conducting half cycle of the power supply. This fixed biasing circuit may be traced from the control electrode I21 through resistor I33, conductor I65, resistor I3I, condenser I32, and conductor I61 to the lower portion of the secondary I53. The upper portion of the secondary I63 is connected directly to the cathode I28 by a circuit that may be traced from the upper terminal of secondary I63 through conductors I12, I1I, I10 and I60. If the bias on condenser I31 is sufl'lcient'to overcome the fixed alternating current by a circuit, just traced, the'dis'charge device 'I'2I will become conductive and a current flow circuit may be traced. from the upper terminal of the secondary I62 through conductor I13, anode I26, cathode I28, relay winding MI, and conductor I14 to the lower terminal of the secondary I62. With current flowing in the last traced circuit the relay winding I4I will. move the switch blades I42 and I43 into engagement with their associated switch contacts I44 and I45.

When the relay I40 becomes energized, and the switch blade I43 engages switch contact I45, there will be a circuit completed to the'burner I2 that may be traced from the input power line I15 through conductor I16, switch contact I45, switch blade I43, conductor I11, burner I2 and conductor I18 back to the other input power line I19. When the burner I2 is energized there should be a flame within the furnace I3 which will be detected by the photocell I5I and which in turn will cause the flame detector I50 to energize the relay I52 whose function in the ap-pa ratus will be considered below.

With a flame within the furnace I3, heatwill be applied to the heating medium and the same will rise in the conduit I4 to the radiator I0. Upon a change in the temperature of the heatingmedium flowing in the conduit I4 there will be a further signal introduced into the. control network I00 by the resistors I01 and I08. The resistor I01 is located against the surface of the housing I09 and is adapted to change temperature relatively quickly with changes in temperature of the heating medium flowing in the conduit I4. The resistor I08, separated fromthe resistor I01 by the lagging or insulating material H0, is adapted to respond to changes in temperature of the heating medium relatively slowly as compared to that response of resistor I01. Therefore, the temperature of the resistor I01 will follow the temperature of the heating medium as it increases, the resistance of resistor I01 will increaseand will tend to unbalance the'bridge I00 in a direction opposite that caused by the cooling of the space resistor I05. However, the resistor I08 will also begin to feel the temperature of the heating medium and will begin to increase in resistance and this increase will tend to counteract the effect of the resistor I01. The action of the resistor I08 will be sufficiently delayed by the lagging material I I0 that the resistor I01 will increase in resistance at a rate greater than that of resistance I08 and when their differential has become great enough the bridge will be rebalanced and there will be no output voltage on the network output terminals calling for operation of the burner I2.

When there is no call for operation of the burner I2"the amplifier will no longer maintain the relay I40 energized and a switch blade I43 will move'out of engagement with the switch 10 contacts I45 to open the energizing circuits to the burner I 2. Upon cutting off the burner I2 the heating medium flowing in the conduit I4 will begin to drop in temperature and. this drop will be followed by the change in resistance of the resistor I01. The resistor I08 is attempting to reach the same temperature as the resistor. I01 and if it should reach this same temperture at a temperature that is above that of the initial starting temperature, all succeeding cycles will attempt to become shorter. These cycles will become shorter until such time asthe heating medium flowing in the conduit I4 has reached a relatively high value which will cause the temperature of the space II to considerably overshoot the desired control point and the resistor I05 will become effective to, upon -.being heated, maintain the burner I2 inoperative for a relatively long period. The action here is almost identical to that explained in respect to Figurev 1 and resistors 26 and 21 prior to the consideration of the effect of resistor 30. These large swings in control point are very-undesirable and. therefore in the present modification it-is proposed to eliminate the short cycling of the apparatus to prevent the ratios of the resistors I01 and I08 from -becomingeffectiveuntil a predetermined time interval has passed. I

In this modification,. the apparatus is-prevented from getting out of stepby providing a timer to give variable off timing which is inversely proportionalto the on time. This timing apparatus has been incorporated with-the amplifier circuits and its operation maybe understood when it is noted that whenithe relay I40 becomesenergized upon the bridge I00 indicating a need for operation of the burner I2, the switch blade I42 engages switch contact I44. .When this occurs the condenser I48, is, connectedin parallel with the relay winding MI and condenser I41 by a circuit that may be traced in the left hand terminal of winding I4I through conductors I 60, I10, condensers I48, conductor I85, switch blade I54, switch contact I56, conductor I86, switch blade I42, switch contact I 44 and conductor I81 to the right hand terminal of the winding MI. The condenser I48 will be charged so that its upper terminal is positive and its lower terminal is negative. As soon as the burner I2 is brought into operation the flame detector I50 will energize the relay I52 so that the winding I53 will move switch blade I54into engagement with switch contact I51. The switch blade I54 will move out of engagement with contact I56 and will open the charging circuit for the condenser I43 and the closing of the switch blade I54 with contact I51 will connect the condenser I48 in a discharging circuit which includes resistor I49 and which may be traced from the upperterminal of the condenser I48 through conductor I1I, resistor I40, switch contact I51, switch blade I54, and conductor I back to the lower terminal of the condenser I48. The resistor I49 is relatively large and therefore the discharging of the condenser I48 through the resistor will be relatively slow. The amount of charge that will remain on the condenser I48 will be dependent upon the length of timeithat the switch blade I54 engages switch contact I51. As soon as the resistors I 01 and I08 are of such resistance as to indicate no further need for operation of the burner I2, as indicated above, the relay I40 will become deenergized and the switch blades I42 and I43 will move out of engagement with their respective contacts I441and I45. Wherrthe' burner I2 has been Ideenergized the fiame detector will no longer detect flame and the relay I52 will no longer maintain switch blade I55 in engagement with switch contact I 57. With both relays I52 and I40 deenergized the condenser I48 will be connected in another discharging circuit in such a manner as to bias the control electrode I21 of discharge device I2I negative to prevent the same from being reenergized until the condenser I 30 has discharged. This circuit may be traced from the cathode I28 through conductors I69, I10, condenser I48, conductor I85, switch blade I54, switch contact I56, conductor I86, switch blade I42, switch contact I46, conductor I88 and resistor I33 to the control electrode I21. The discharging of the condenser I48 will now take place through the resistor I34 which is connected between the control electrode I21 and the cathode I28. The length of time that the condenser I48 will be able to bias the discharge device I2I to be nonconductive will of course depend upon the amount of charge that remains on the condenser after having discharged through the resistor I49 While the apparatus was in operation. Obviously if the condenser was discharged only a short time through the resistor I49 due to a short operating cycle of the burner I2 the condenser would retain sufiicient charge to maintain the discharge device I2Inon-conducting for a considerable length of time. The function of this timer then is to vary the on timings of the burner I2 so that they are inversely proportional to the on time of the burner I2.

The on time is in effect a measure of the load demand of the system so if the on time is short the indication is that the load is light and it is therefore desired that the apparatus should not again be rendered operative for a predetermined length of time so that a desired temperature will be'maintained in the space II. This will mean that the tendency for the resistors Ill! and I08 to get out or step and create a demand for heat before it is actually needed will cause the apparatus, over a period of cycles, to overshoot the control point unless something is provided to keep the resistors I01 and I08 ineffective until the desired condition is realized. In Figure 1, this condition was taken care of by the resistor 30 in the return conduit I5. Here, in Figure 2, the timer of the apparatus, also giving a measure of load, maintains the burner inoperative for a period of time dependent on the load demand of the system. As the load varies there will obviously be a varying of the timing at which the amplifier is rendered inoperative to energize the burner control relay so that the adverse condition of the resistors I01 and I08 causing the system to get out of step and create a false demand for heat is eliminated and a desired temperature may be maintained without causing the large swing in control point that would otherwise occur.

F'rom the foregoing, it may be seen that we have provided a control apparatus for maintaining a desired temperature in a given space which measures the rate at which the heating medium is supplied to the space to anticipate the needs of the space and measures the load demand of the system so that the off times may be varied in accordance with the load. While we'have disclosed our apparatus in connection with a temperature control apparatus, and while it is particularly well suited for use there, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that our apparatus has use in many fields of condition 12 control and therefore we'intend to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a temperature control apparatus; relay means adapted when energized to initiate the flow of a temperature changing medium through a heat exchange apparatus; electrical circuit means responsive to the need for operation of said relay means, said circuit means comprising a first impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus, a second impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium leaving the heat exchange apparatus, a third impedance lagged with respect to said first impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus, and means connecting said impedances in said circuit so that said circuit gives a measure of the rate of change of temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus and the heat lost by the medium in the heat exchange apparatus; and means connecting said circuit means to said relay means so that said relay means will be energized upon said circuit calling for a flow of temperature changing medium.

2. In a temperature control apparatus, relay means adapted. when energized to initiate the flow of a temperature changing medium through a heat exchange apparatus, electrical circuit means responsive to the need for operation of said relay means, said circuit means comprising a balanceable network having a first impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus opposed by a second impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium leaving the heat exchange apparatus and a third impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus and lagged with respect to said first impedance, and means connecting said circuit means to said relay means so that said relay means will be energized upon said circuit calling for a now of temperature changing medium.

3. In a temperature control apparatus, relay means adapted when energized to initiate the flow of a temperature changing medium through a heat exchange apparatus, electrical circuit means responsive to the need for operation of said relay means, said circuit means comprising an electrical bridge having a first impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus opposed by a second impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium leaving the heat exchange apparatus and a third impedance responsive to the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus and lagged with respect to said first impedance, and means connecting said circuit means to said relay means so that said relay means will be energized upon said circuit calling for a flow of temperature changing medium.

4. In an apparatus for maintaining a desired temperature in a given space, relay means when operative for controlling the flow of heating medium to the space and when inoperative for cutting ofi the flow, circuit means for sensing the need for the flow of heating medium, said circuit means comprising a first temperature responsive impedance responding relatively quickly and a second temperature responsive impedance responding relatively slowly to the temperature of heating medium flowing to the given space and {effective when the ratio'between said impedances is-of a firstvalue to render said relay'means operative 'and when ofa'second ratio to'render said relay means inoperative and an electrical device connected 'tosaid circuit '-means for maintaining said circuitmeans ineffective until thetemperature of the heating medium responded toby said impedances has reached a value consistent with the load demand'of said apparatus.

'5. man apparatus for maintaining a desired temperature within a given space, relay means when operative for initiatingthe'fiow of alzheating medium to the space and cutting off the'fiow when-inoperative, an electrical bridge connected in controlling relation to said relay 2 means, said bridge comprising a pair ofimp'edances whoseimpedances vary with changes in temperature one of which respondsrelatively quickly andithe other of'which responds relativelylslowly .to changes in the temperature of the heating medium and adaptcd to causesaid'bridge' to render said relay mea'ns operative when the ratio of the temperaspace; an electrical bridge for indicatingthe need for operation of said relay means, said bridge comprising first, second, and third impedances whose impedances vary with changes in temperature, means positioning said first impedance to respond relatively quickly to the temperature of the medium supplied to the space, means positioning said second impedance to respond relatively quickly to the temperature of the heating medium leaving the space, means positioning said third impedance to respond relatively slowly to the temperature of the heating medium supplied to the space, and means connecting said first, second, and third impedances in said bridge to give a measure of load demand of the space and rate of supply of the heating medium to the space to cause said bridge to cyclically indicate the need for operation of said relay means at a rate determined by load demand and rate of supply of the heating medium, and means connecting said bridge to said relay means.

7. In an apparatus for maintaining a desired temperature within a given space; relay means for initiating the flow of heating medium to the space; an electrical bridge for indicating the need for operation of said relay means, said bridge comprising first, second, and third impedances whose impedances vary with changes in temperature, means positioning said first impedance to respond relatively quickly to the temperature of the medium supplied to the space, means positioning said second impedance to respond relatively quickly to the temperature of the heating medium leaving the space, means positioning said third impedance to respond relatively slowly to the temperature of the heating medium supplied to the space, means connecting said first, sec- 0nd, and third impedances in said bridge to give a measure of load demand of the space and rate of supply of the heating medium to the space to cause said bridge to indicate the need for operation of said relay when the ratios between said impedances is of a first set of values and no further'need 'for operation when of a sec'ondsset of values,-and means including said secondimpedancefor varying the time-when the ratio of said-first and third impedances becomes effective 'to indicate further need for operation of said relay in accordance with load demand; and

means connecting said bridge to said relay means to operate said relay in accordance vwithitherratios of said impedances.

8. A temperature control apparatus, comprising in combination, means for initiatingthe .flow of a temperature changing medium through a *heat exchange apparatus, a control device responsive to a need for operation of the initiating means, said device comprising .a pair of temperatureresponsivedevices, one of which is solely "responsive to the temperature of the heating medium supplied to the heatexchange apparatus and the other of which is responsiveto a .com-

bination of the direct temperature of the:heating mediumleaving theheatexchange apparatus and alagged temperature of the heating medium supplied to the-heat exchange apparatus, and means connecting said control device to. said initiating temperature within a given space, the'combination' comprising, means when'operativefor initiating the flow of heating medium to the given space, a control device responsive to the need foroperation of saidinitiating means connected to control said initiating. means,'said device comprising a temperature. responsive means having a relatively quickxtemperature response and armther temperature responsive means having a relatively slow temperature response, both of said temperature responsive means responding to the temperature of the heating medium flowing to the given space and effective when the ratio between their respective temperatures is of a first value to render said initiating means operative and when of a second value to render said initiating means inoperative, and an electrical delay device connected in controlling relation to said initiating means for maintaining said initiating means ineffective when the temperature ratios of said responsive means are inconsistent with load demand.

10. In an apparatus for maintaining a desired temperature in a given space, relay means when rendered operative for controlling the flow of heating medium to the space and when inoper ative for cutting off the fiow to the space, circuit means for sensing the need for the flow of heating medium connected to control said relay means, said circuit means comprising a first temperature responsive impedance responding relatively quickly, a second temperature responsive impedance responding relatively slowly to the temperature of heating medium flowing to the given space and effective when the ratio between said impedances is of a first value to initiate operation of said relay means and when of a second value to render said relay means inoperative, and space temperature responsive means, and an electrical control device connected to said circuit means to maintain said relay means inoperative until the temperature of said impedances has a value consistent with the load demand of said apparatus.

11. In an apparatus for maintaining a desired condition in a given space, relay means when operative for controlling the flow of condition changing medium to the space and cutting off said flow when'inoperative, circuit means for sensing the need for the flow of condition changing medium connected to control said relay means, said circuit means comprising a first impedance whose impedance varies relatively quickly and the second impedance whose impedance varies relatively slowly with respect to the condition of the condition changing medium and effective when the ratios of said impedance is of a first value to render said relay operative and when of a second value to render said relay means inoperative, and an electrical control device connected to said circuit means to maintain said relay means inoperative until the con dition of the condition changing medium responded to by said impedances has reached a value consistent with the load demand of said apparatus.

12. In an apparatus for maintaining a, desired condition in a given space, relay means when operative for controlling the flow of condition changing medium to the space and cutting off the flow when inoperative, circuit means for sensing the need for the flow of condition changing means connected to control said relay means, said circuit means comprising a first impedance whose impedance varies relatively quickly and a second impedance whose impedance varies relatively slowly with respect to the condition of the condition-changing medium and efiective when the ratio of said impedances is of a first value to render said relay means operative to initiate the flow of condition changing medium and when of a second value to render said relay means inoperative, and an electrical time delay device connected to said circuit means to maintain said re- 16 lay means ineffective until the condition of the condition changing medium responded to by said impedances has reached a value consistent with the load demand of said apparatus.

13. In a temperature control apparatus, relay means adapted when energized to initiate the flow of a temperature changing medium whose temperature changes when flowing to and through a heat exchange apparatus, electrical circuit means responsive to the need for operation of said relay means, said circuit means comprising, means responsive to the temperature condition adjacent to said heat exchange apparatus, temperature variable impedance means responsive to the rate of change of the temperature of the temperature changing medium supplied to the heat exchange apparatus and the temperature of the temperature changing medium after passing through the heat exchange apparatus, and means connecting said circuit means to said relay means so that said relay means will be energized upon the circuit calling for a flow of temperature changing medium.

JOHN M. WILSON. STANLEY W. NICKELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,582 Martin Sept. 27, 1927 1,946,155 Foster Feb. 6, 1934 2,236,624 Littwin Apr. 1, 1941 2.261343 De Florez et a1 Nov. 4, 1941 

